Gov. Bush urges preparation as Wilma nears

A HOTEL VAN used to evacuate guests passes wind-blown palm trees in Cancun's hotel zone as Hurricane Wilma approached the area Thursday. By JOSE LUIS MAGANA, The Associated Press

KEY WEST -- Hurricane Wilma's march toward Florida slowed somewhat Thursday, giving residents an unexpected extra day to make preparations for a possibly major storm. Gov. Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency to ensure that necessary supplies and disaster response teams were in place.

"This is the time to prepare," Bush told reporters in Tallahassee.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Wilma was expected to hit Florida's western coast, possibly including the low-lying Keys island chain, late Sunday -- a day later than previously thought.

The storm was predicted to make a turn to the northeast toward Florida after striking Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the western Caribbean Sea. In addition to the Keys, the southwest counties of Collier, Lee and Charlotte were in the center of the storm's predicted path, which could produce a storm surge of 12 to 17 feet, state meteorologist Ben Nelson said.

Max Mayfield, the hurricane center's director, said Wilma's slowdown would likely weaken the storm from a Category 4 now, with sustained 150 mph winds, to a Category 3 or less before U.S. landfall. He said conditions in the Gulf of Mexico were not favorable for storm strengthening.

"The timing is certainly working in our favor," Mayfield said.

But Mayfield added that Wilma would still probably be a strong hurricane with a powerful storm surge when it reached the state. He said Wilma is also unusually large, with tropical storm-force winds extending out some 260 miles from the center that could cause widespread damage.

"Don't just focus on the eye of the hurricane," Mayfield said.

At 8 p.m. EDT, forecasters said Wilma was about 120 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and about 460 miles southwest of Key West. It was heading northwest toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near 5 mph with winds at about 150 mph, forecasters said.

Wilma's center was forecast to be very near the coastline of Yucatan by midday Friday and it could regain Category 5 strength by Friday night, forecasters said.

"As it hits the Yucatan peninsula, it has the potential to do catastrophic damage," Mayfield said. "The thing to do now is to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Wilma."

Although Wilma was approaching from the west, forecasters warned that major Atlantic Coast cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach could be hit by strong winds and heavy rains.

Bush said people in Wilma's possible path should use the extra time "to make decisions about what they will do over the next 72 hours" such as planning to evacuate, stocking up on nonperishable food items and securing homes and businesses. He said the state had food, water, ice and other supplies and disaster response teams ready, including up to 7,500 National Guard personnel.

"We are battle tested, well-resourced, well-trained," Bush said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was positioning emergency materials in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Homestead. FEMA acting chief R. David Paulison said the agency has 150 truckloads of ice, 150 truckloads of water and the Red Cross has 200,000 meals available.

"We are ready for the storm, as much as you can be," Paulison said in Washington.

The governor also urged people not to horde gasoline, which frequently causes long lines at gas stations and some to run out of fuel. Bush said an estimated 200 million gallons of gas is available at Florida ports, enough for an adequate supply.

In the low-lying, vulnerable Keys, the normally crowded historic district in Key West was eerily quiet Thursday with tourists and nonresidents already asked to leave. A mandatory evacuation of residents was postponed from Friday to Saturday. Some residents didn't seem to be too hurried.

Mark Brann was relaxing outside Andy's Scooter Shop where he works, with nothing much to do without tourists. Normally, he'd be gearing up for a busy week with the annual Fantasy Fest celebration.

The 10-day party known for drinking and debauchery was supposed to start over the weekend, but has been delayed until Tuesday.

"Where are you going to go? They don't know where the storm's going," he said, saying he doesn't want to evacuate into a hurricane and that he thinks he'll be safe in his 7th floor condominium.

Keys officials were hoping that the storm would not force cancellation of Fantasy Fest, a wild celebration of frivolity that had been set to begin Friday and end Halloween weekend. It will now be delayed until Tuesday because of the hurricane.

Elsewhere, Wilma threatens Florida's citrus and horticulture industries, which were devastated by last year's hurricanes, as well as dairy and winter vegetable crops. Last year's vegetable crops were spared by the timing of the August and September hurricanes, but a late October hurricane could flood the many winter vegetables, including radishes and corn, that have recently been planted.